Football Japan Minutecast

Japan go into their final Group E game with Denmark in Rustenburg on Thursday evening knowing a draw will be good enough to clinch their place in the World Cup knockout stages for only the second time ever - and the first on foreign soil.

A 2-1 victory for the Danes over Cameroon last Saturday was enough to maintain their hopes of qualifying for the last sixteen - a feat they have managed in each of their previous three Finals appearances - but the slender goal difference advantage enjoyed by Japan after a tense 1-0 defeat to Holland means that Morten Olsen�fs side will require all three points to progress.

Merely to stand on the brink of history represents a significant achievement in itself for Takeshi Okada and his players after a dismal build up to the World Cup in South Africa had seen the team booed by their own fans and fiercely castigated in the domestic media. A widely criticised tactical switch to a more pragmatic 4-1-2-2-1 system during Japan�fs pre-tournament training camp bore instant fruits with a 1-0 win in their opening group match against Cameroon - sparking a complete U-turn in media and supporter opinion which has remained highly optimistic even in spite of the narrow loss to the Dutch.

The situation is certainly far more promising than four years ago in Germany, when Japan needed both to rely on events elsewhere and to beat defending champions Brazil by at least two goals - despite taking a first-half lead, Zico�fs side were ultimately demolished by the manager�fs compatriots in the second half to lose 4-1. On home soil in 2002, Philippe Troussier�fs Japan were able to go one better than the required draw in beating Tunisia 2-0 to finish top of their first round group, but Okada�fs previous experience at France �f98 saw the team eliminated even before their final match against Jamaica following defeats to both Argentina and Croatia.

Despite Japan�fs unexpectedly fine showing so far in this year�fs World Cup having being built upon a solid defence, the manager has once again emphasised the dangers of playing for a draw and insisted that victory is the main objective against Denmark. In unusually relaxed mood during his press conference in Rustenburg on Wednesday, Okada joked that he hoped his side could �ewin 10-0 and take the pressure off�f, but admitted that it was rather more likely �eto be a very close, fierce match�f.

With no new injury worries, Okada appears certain to remain loyal both to the formation and to the players that have started Japan�fs two games so far, meaning that Keisuke Honda will continue up front and Yuki Abe will resume his highly successful destructive role in defensive midfield. Eiji Kawashima, who has not received the same level of criticism back home as in much of the international press for his fumble against Holland, is expected to keep his place in goal ahead of Seigo Narazaki.

------------

Denmark are also free of injuries, but Palermo defender Simon Kjær will miss the game with Japan after picking up yellow cards against both Holland and Cameroon. Per Krøldrup of Fiorentina is likely to deputise, while midfielder Daniel Jensen could be in line for his first start of the competition after replacing the disappointing Martin Jørgensen at half-time on Saturday.

Thursday�fs match at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium kicks off at 8.30pm local time (3.30am on Friday Japanese time). The only previous meeting between the two sides came in a friendly back in 1971, when Japan were beaten 3-2 in Copenhagen despite a brace from legendary forward Kunishige Kamamoto.


World Cup results
Group F
Slovakia 0-2 Paraguay
Italy 1-1 New Zealand

Group G
Brazil 3-1 Ivory Coast
Portugal 7-0 North Korea

Group H
Chile 1-0 Switzerland
Spain 2-0 Honduras

Group A
Mexico 0-1 Uruguay
France 1-2 South Africa
(Uruguay win group, Mexico qualify in second)

Group B
Nigeria 2-2 South Korea
Greece 0-2 Argentina
(Argentina win group, South Korea qualify in second)

Group C
Slovenia 0-1 England
United States 1-0 Algeria
(United States win group, England qualify in second)

Group D
Ghana L-L Germany
Australia L-L Serbia